Dr. Justin Turner, community health officer for the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Cancer Center and Research Institute, emphasized that prostate cancer is common among men and early detection dramatically improves survival rates. The five-year survival rate for prostate cancer detected early exceeds 99%, but drops below 20% when diagnosed at stage 4.
Turner noted that one of the primary hurdles to early diagnosis is that prostate cancer often presents no symptoms in its initial stages. Symptoms such as difficulty urinating, blood in the urine or semen, back discomfort, or frequent nighttime urination typically appear only after the disease has advanced.
“Prostate cancer is a condition where if you till you have symptoms, you are likely waiting too late,” said Turner. “The absence of symptoms does not mean the absence of disease. We have to screen early.”
Guidelines from the American Cancer Society recommend average-risk men begin screening at age 50. Turner noted that screening should start at 45 for Black men and men with a first-degree relative diagnosed with prostate cancer, and at 40 for those with multiple first-degree relatives affected. He advised all men to discuss personalized screening schedules with their physicians.
Turner also highlighted significant health disparities within Mississippi, noting that Black men in the state die from prostate cancer at 2 to 2.5 times the rate of white men, and Mississippi disproportionately diagnoses prostate cancer at later stages compared to national averages.
Disparities in healthcare access, lack of insurance, medical mistrust, and delaying routine medical checkups all contribute to late-stage diagnoses, Turner said.
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